Scam Alert

[BaronHK]

Thanks Brian123 for posting. I too received it , googled the phone number and the only result was this post, thanks to you.
I hope the Admin would allow the phone number number so other people can find info on this scam, when they look it up on google: 1-833-265-2663

As you guys can see it looks very "official". I called Capital One (their official number from their own website) and talked to their online banking but they could not confirm the number as belonging to them. And the rep told me these notices each have a BR number (in this case BR423559) but that number is not in her system. Unfortunately she wouldn't take my contact info, but she told me she is putting in a notice of the descriptions I gave her, and forward to their security staff.

I'm very interested in how OP concluded it's a scam.
For me the red flags that triggered me into googleing the phone number were:
1. I don't have a Capital One account (but I did have one I closed 6+ years ago)
2. My name on the envelope had incorrect middle initial
3. I googled the phone number and came across this post, so I registered just to post a reply... because I think it's worth doing what we can to stop scammer (I also work in IT security).

I called the scammer number 1-833-265-2663. Initially it asks you "Please enter your credit card number" with an option if you don't remember. Then it asks you for your full SSN. Then it connects you to a "live rep".
The live rep couldn't really speak english. Name was "Jose" (hoe - ze). Latin American. Started asking for personal info of course...

Well that's all I have for now. I edited some personally identifiable info from my pics.

I think this scam has potential to affect many people because it looks very official and innocent. But people will call thinking their identity was stolen because they don't have a Capital ONE account.

View attachment 262941View attachment 262942View attachment 262943

This looks like a standard Consumer Privacy Notice that you usually get inside a welcome package when you sign up for a credit card.

By law, they have to allow you to limit information sharing, so these notices explain your legal rights under federal law, and as you can see under the stricter terms of various State laws if you are a resident of those States.

https://www.capitalone.com/privacy/notice/

Here's a copy from Capital One's website. Notice that the phone number is different. However, that form says the revision date on the website is 8/2023 and yours says revision date 10/2023.

To be safe, I would NOT call any numbers except the one on Capital One's website or on the back of your card.

If you do not have a Capital One credit card, I suggest pulling a copy of your credit report, for free, under the FACT Act, from https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action and seeing if there are any credit card accounts you do not know about.

Sometimes, after a data breach people will sign up for credit cards in your name and....wait for it....pay them every month to pump up your credit score.

Why? Well, when they juice your score eventually they can get the big boy cards with huge spending limits that they don't give to people with thin credit files.

If you see any Capital One credit cards and know you don't have any, call Capital One and have them shut down the card accounts. Then you need to alert at least one of the three major credit bureaus to put an initial fraud alert on your file (they'll alert the other two), then file a fraud victim report with the FTC, and send it to one of the credit bureaus, such as TransUnion, to get an extended Fraud Alert (7 years).

While you have a Fraud Alert, lenders will take additional steps to verify it's you, such as asking for photo ID and a copy of your Social Security Card, when you apply for credit, or calling you at the numbers listed on the Fraud Alert.

You might consider freezing your credit files. You will need to do this with TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. You'll need to remember to schedule a thaw on all three if you want to apply for credit as the inquiries won't go through with a frozen report.

 

[BaronHK]

Everyone can just stop right there if you have no relationship or dealings with whatever company it's claiming to be from. It's like when I get a phone call from "Brian from Windows, I am here to help you fix your infected Windows computer" and I use a Mac. I mean, one time, I played along.... I admit, I was really bored that day and strung the guy along for almost a half hour.

I did better. I opened a copy of a Windows virtual machine on my Linux desktop and just downloaded the file and ran it that gave them a remote desktop connection into it.

Completely wasted their time. I pretended to be an elderly confused man who needed to wait for the wife to get home with the credit card.

 

[BaronHK]

Back in day this should be reported to postmaster general

https://ehome.uspis.gov/fcsexternal/default.aspx

You can report mail fraud to the US Postal Inspection Service.

 

[2005jettatdi]

I got a call wanting to confirm that I had received my new Medicare card. I played along for a while and confirmed my card has a blue stripe across the top. Then he wanted my Medicare number. I told him he already has it. He said I needed to tell him what it is and he would confirm it. I told him to tell me what it is and I would confirm it. I finally told him I knew he was a fraud and he hung up.

Never give any information to someone who calls you. If you think there is any chance the call is legitimate, hang up, look up the number, call and ask if there is any problem. If they are legitimate, they are fine with you taking that approach. Do not give the last four of your SSN thinking that can't do harm. Too many places all they ask for is the last four.

 

[Delta]

Thanks Brian123 for posting. I too received it , googled the phone number and the only result was this post, thanks to you.
I hope the Admin would allow the phone number number so other people can find info on this scam, when they look it up on google: 1-833-265-2663

As you guys can see it looks very "official". I called Capital One (their official number from their own website) and talked to their online banking but they could not confirm the number as belonging to them. And the rep told me these notices each have a BR number (in this case BR423559) but that number is not in her system. Unfortunately she wouldn't take my contact info, but she told me she is putting in a notice of the descriptions I gave her, and forward to their security staff.

I'm very interested in how OP concluded it's a scam.
For me the red flags that triggered me into googleing the phone number were:
1. I don't have a Capital One account (but I did have one I closed 6+ years ago)
2. My name on the envelope had incorrect middle initial
3. I googled the phone number and came across this post, so I registered just to post a reply... because I think it's worth doing what we can to stop scammer (I also work in IT security).

I called the scammer number 1-833-265-2663. Initially it asks you "Please enter your credit card number" with an option if you don't remember. Then it asks you for your full SSN. Then it connects you to a "live rep".
The live rep couldn't really speak english. Name was "Jose" (hoe - ze). Latin American. Started asking for personal info of course...

Well that's all I have for now. I edited some personally identifiable info from my pics.

I think this scam has potential to affect many people because it looks very official and innocent. But people will call thinking their identity was stolen because they don't have a Capital ONE account.

View attachment 262941View attachment 262942View attachment 262943

I would run a credit report ASAP! That looks like someone might have opened up a credit card in your name. That's your standard privacy notice when a company pulls your credit.

 

[alarmguy]

I got a call wanting to confirm that I had received my new Medicare card. I played along for a while and confirmed my card has a blue stripe across the top. Then he wanted my Medicare number. I told him he already has it. He said I needed to tell him what it is and he would confirm it. I told him to tell me what it is and I would confirm it. I finally told him I knew he was a fraud and he hung up.

Never give any information to someone who calls you. If you think there is any chance the call is legitimate, hang up, look up the number, call and ask if there is any problem. If they are legitimate, they are fine with you taking that approach. Do not give the last four of your SSN thinking that can't do harm. Too many places all they ask for is the last four.

Whenever I get an unexpected call, I listen, dont talk, then hang up. IF they say they are from IRS, SS or Medicare I dont even listen. I hang up. Government agencies do not call you up. Just hang up. Oh heck, I hang up on anyone that I dont know! *LOL*

 

[alarmguy]

I would run a credit report ASAP! That looks like someone might have opened up a credit card in your name. That's your standard privacy notice when a company pulls your credit.

This is why everyone should lock their credit with the main 4 credit agencies. It cost nothing. Then there is nothing to think about. Simple stuff but I think something like 80% of Americans dont do it. I cant (mostly) feel sorry for them in that case.

 

[dnewton3]

This is just another example of why I have all our credit accounts frozen at the major credit bureaus. Have been locked for nearly 20 years. It goes a LONG way to reducing these manner of threats. (Nothing ever eliminates a threat, but managing the threat by reducing exposure is key).

 

[Nesterenko]

My information should be more important than my incorrect spelling. Then again, we are in a different era!
The spell checks on my computer are either not working or the 8 Coors Banquet Beers I have had are doing something to me.

You start drinking in the early pm? Seriously though about the errors, it's not only you but probably most here don't proof read at all before posting.

 

[AlDurante]

Just got one of these letters in the mail today, and wanted to chime in with a different perspective since I didn't see this in the earlier replies:

After reading the comments and freaking out about possible fraud, I went ahead and called Capital One (the actual number from their website), and a rep told me I did in fact have an account with them; turns out the card they had was a KOHLS credit card I opened about 18 months ago that I not only forgot about, but I didn't realize they were somehow tied to Capital One. Sure enough, on the back of the card there's a Capital One logo.

All that to say: it's possible you might have a card you DID open an account with (perhaps some retailer like Kohls or whatever) and it's Capital One sending you an updated fact sheet about their privacy policy. Hopefully that helps, but in any case, it's always worth calling the bank and running credit checks just to get peace of mind.